Day 14: Launching PHASE 2

What is Phase 2?

This is the point I always get to when I am working on eating healthy and exercising seriously.

I lose a little, feel better, then fall back..

Last night I fell back.  All the old temptatons.

So, now I need to regroup.

Remember HOW GOOD I FEEL when I am eating well!  How less food feels better, too much food feels bad.

Enjoy my workouts.
Enjoy how my clothes are fitting.

That is Phase 2

Day 13- my little CP t fits now.. mostly

Ok today I was able to wear my little CollegePlus capped sleeve t shirt.  A few rolls around the middle left, but before I could NOT wear it...  so this is good!

Last night went to Dave and Busters with guys for the networking meeting a had a couple of delicious beers with John and ate well. Had a salad and nibbled on his steak and onion rings (only a few)
OUt really late.

Got up this am and did JZ, but took it easy as I am tired and I pushed it hard Mon and Tuesday.

Today I am going to go for another Perfect Day and drink lots of water.

Ok.. I am in the Danger Zone!

This happens every time I start to lose weight.

I take some off, feel so much better as I had been just about bursting through my clothes before and think to myself

a) HOW COULD YOU have been even heavier than you are at this minute? You are still heavy but imagine how you must have been 2 weeks ago. Beat myself up.

b) Lose a little more and feel so much better that I fall off the wagon and gain it back and more.

I need to keep going, so I can remember what it feels like to be where I was a year ago.

Never never never never never never give up!

Day 12- The Payoff Begins!

Ok, my Almost Perfect Day is paying off.

I woke up this morning feeling lighter, tighter, more energy. A bit hungry, but that is good.
I used to hate the feeling the next morning after I ate too much the night before.

Went to Jazzercise and though I still have rolls... in the middle.. my clothes are not so tight. Also, I am feeling stronger. I feel my muscles when I walk, bend, stretch.

As I gained weight and lost muscle tone this past year, I was duping myself into believing I felt like I did because of age. That is not true.

Shaving off fat and building muscle makes me feel 10 years younger. Maybe because when I abuse my body with excess bad food and drink, it is rebelling, it is sad and trying to deal with all the garbage I put in.

It is as if it is saying "Give me a chance!"

And why do I abuse it? Feelings, emotions, sheesh. That is it.

So, if I can continue to give myself some healthy, happy structure I will keep feeling better.

Gosh.. I am almost starting to dream of wearing the 90% of the clothes in my closet that don't fit.

Just to pull something out and pop in on and not worry about hiding rolls of fat and jiggly parts. What freedom!  Go Cindy!


NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!
:)

Day 11, My (Almost) Perfect Day

Ok, today I am going for one Perfect Day, just to see how it feels.
No, I am not trying to be perfect or do every day perfect, but just one to see how it feels.

Do I feel better?
Is this the right amount of calories/exercise?
Will the motivate me to keep on this track?

Here is the working definition of "perfect"

• Good workout

• 8 glasses of water

• Vitamins. Extra credit for any other good minerals, fish oil, etc

• 5 MF yummy things

• Dinner:  6 oz chicken or fish and veggies

• 2 extra oz of protein if a good workout

7am- up
Hot coffee, watched EWTN Mass on iPad with dogs on my lap
Quiet time and prayers, consecration to Mary retreat reading

8:15 Jz workout. Awesome. So good, happy, fun. Worked hard

9:30 Desk, Strawberry shake Yum. Satified

noon- hungry- day is getting eaten up in details. Have my training call at 1pm, need to get moving.
Slight frustration wtih usual people. Don't give in. Eat healthy. Don't forget water. Enough coffee.

12:15- Cheese Pizza bites and juicy diet coke.  Very good. Still a bit hungry.

4:30.. so far, so perfect. :)

Made some chicken to have around for family and ate 2 bites, Ok, part of dinner ration.

4:35- chocolate shakes with light whipped cream on top.  YUM!

6:30- Wonderful dinner.
8 oz chicken breast sauteed in olive oil, with salt, pepper and garlic
Medly of sauteed vegatbables, so savory.

7pm- Healthy chocolate pudding with low cal redi whip on top, with a club soda and watching episodes of Upstairs Downstairs.

Very full, very good.

Only mis-step, which was very small. Bryan cooked dinner and I had a bit of his turkey parmesean. Still pretty much on target, but was not hungry but ate anyway.

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What did I learn from today?
Plenty of food. Full.
It was hard in the evening.  I was scrouging for food.  I was not hungry, but tired.  My natural inclination is to look for something good to put in my mouth when I am tired.

Watching UPDOWN, saw over and over how Miss. Elizabeth when through trials and Rose would keep trying to get her to eat, but that was the last thing she wanted. Yes, the food did not look that great (except for the cakes and feasts) but that was not her inclination. Why is it my default.. something to ponder.

Wearing soime shorts and at least I can get in them (denim) but can see my dumpy figure. It would be nice to get rid of this excess and feel lean and stronger again.

Never never never never never never give up!

Day 8, 9, 10

Catch up

• Major challenge Thursday afternoon.  Tired, stressed, working hard, wanted food. Ate healthy on plan and told myself,  "you will have the same cashflow problem in 30 days either way, and it may be fixed. But whatever outcome, do you want to be healthier or heavier when it happens"

Truly right-on for me. Realizing life will keep happening, why not stay healthy and that is something I CAN control.

• Had a glass of wine from a bottle John left out Thursday night, so figured, I messed up, might as well go whole hog.
  

The old "All or Nothing" got me again.  ;/

• Felt so tired and crummy Friday had french fries for lunch in business meeting with staff. Brought healthy food, but ate FF. Humm.

• Stupendous work out Saturday.  Love that Jazzercise  Took my heavy weights and tailored workout to me. (Held the weights during the glut and quad standing crunch song) Only one doing it... felt like an odd duck, but was sore next day.  Yay

• Am enjoying eating lighter with some structure. Still craving protein. Keeping it around in the form of sauteed chicken breast, good.
• Excellent food for on the go. Love my bag of MF 'chips' and juicy diet coke when I go downtown to meetings. 

Day 7

I promised tojournal every day and have a ton to say but no time. SEe you tomorrow!

Day 6

To JZ this am... was complaining to myself about the longish drive.. but Mary was awesome. No wonder she is the top instructor in the nation. Funny, challenging, real.  I worked hard.

I am feeling tighter.  Not like my fat is hanging out all over. My core is tightening up. This is good.
I am feeling muscle return.  Oh, how did I go so long??  This is more $$ than I like but think I will keep up JZ. I am going, always glad I went and it is challenging me.

Also, has not re-injured my shoulder a bit. Safe.  I think I will really pay attn to the strength part and focus to ensure I get enough in that 7-10 min each day. Even if I am off their count, etc.

LOVE the new MF food I got.  I really look forward to it. The cereal is great.  Love the Choc chip pancakes.
Oh and the Redi whip on the shakes!  I truly like this. I think 3 mo will work fine then transition back.

Keep it up girl!!

Day 5

Summary
Great day.
Jz is feeling so good.  I used 8 pound weights on the strength and focused not just moving to the music. Was sore today. Am feeling more 'solid' less jiggly, like muscle is retruning.

Eating, good.  Very good all day. Love the new food I just got. YUM.  At extra chicken tonight as JK BBQs- didn't take off skins.  Need to watch that but ok

Yummy dessert- Choc Chip crepe with sugar free syrup and Redi whip!  Major yummy!

Could not sleep, big glass of wine.
Over all good.
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WOW off to a great start!

My body is talking to me.

I woke up feeling lighter.  My stomach was not tight like after I eat or drink badly the day before.
Just the past 3 days have made difference. Like my body is saying

Thank you!

for treating it good.

Jz workout, MF yummy bars this am, and thier new cereal with some coconut milk for lunch.
Nice big starbucks coffee with Donna and 2 hours of chat.  ah..!!

now to keep the energy up and get a ton of work done today and not revert to the fridge.

Day 3 and 4

No, I didn't post yesterday, (Sunday) but I had a REALLY good nap!

Had a great day yesterday.
I like that I have some regulation in my life.  Since I am home almost all the time and my office desk is literally 25 feet from the kitchen it is often my default. I see messes, laundry, have work and family frustrations and think "just a taste of this would perk me up!" then, have a jar of PB later... there I am with 30 pounds I don't need or want.

Had a lovely email exchange with Leonie. She is so dear and has been such a friend over the years. I really look forward to supporting her and have her with me continining on this journey.

She is right about the final goal being a 'natural' eater.  That is my goal, too.  With MF I want to remind my body how it feels to eat healthy and light and get in the groove and then swtich over.  So, just for 100 days.

Today:
I feel lighter. Even just ONE day eating well makes me feel so much better.
Did Jz today and it felt so good.  Lots of dog sitting and walking lately which keeps me moving.
I am so glad I am not doing CP anymore and on the phone for hours and hours and then running through airports, standing at conventions for 10 hours a day and fighting fatigue.   That was so hard.

Summary:

OK Day 4 rocked!!!
Stayed on plan, had a terrific dinner. Sauted chicken breasts with also sauted squash, mushrooms and onions in olive oil.

A few bites off but stayed on healthy stuff.  Great workout.

Day 2

Tired, up early to dog sit.  Skipped workout, but ok, as am doing weekdays.

Ate MF good.

Wanted my mid morning protein again.... it always hits.  Had some chicken.. so good. Didn't measure, so ended up having about 12 ounces!  Hummm.. how to combat this?

Think I will have to find some really good MF choices when I get that mid-morning protein urge.

Day 1

Lovely PB bar and extra hot starbucks with Coconut Milk creamer for breakfast.
Went to JZ 9:20 class.  First had a dogsit.  Mary taught. She is so awesome, talks and tells stories the whole way through. I got a good workout, not as hard as I have done in the past, but it felt good.

Came home and had my usual protien craving. Had a MF Brownie instead.  More coffee.  All is good.

This is the first hard part.  I am at the top of my weight and can wear few clothes in my closet.  This is the part where I need to keep busy, keep going and remember what I am thankful for.

I am reading the 33 Days to Morning Glory- mini retreat. Love it so far. Listening to Gregorain Chant as I work and dog sit.  Connecting with God as much as I can.  Just finished listening to The Power of the Presence of God by Brother Lauerence.

This is about connecting with God, honoring ourselves.

Eating:
Staying on track.
Got really hungry around 2:30. Dogsitting, walks in hot sun.  Didn't eat when I got home. Instead had BBQ bites and 2 diet cokes. Really really good.

4:50 getting hungry, still have work to do. Put off eating. Make a nice dinner and make myself wait.

YAY! Did great until evening.

 BOO! had extra chicken and also few bites of vanilla ice cream.
Why?
Not measuring protein.  Snacking.
Mindset: "I did good all day and worked out. So I can veer a bit.  This is just my first day so I can get real tomorrow"  Biggest downfall.

Starting- My Plan

I have had results with Medifast.
I have had results with Jazzercise.

I am going to stick to them both for 100 days to bring myself back to being lean and full of energy.

This blog will be brutally honest about the journey. I may or may not publish it to the public.

Why am I blogging about this?
Like many bloggers, I think, when I write down my experiences they gel for me. It causes me to reflect and see where I am, what I have learned and continue to grow.  That has been true in my spiritual life.

A life unexamined is not worth living? Is that how the quote goes?

It is true. I think especially in terms of fitness and especially with the body image expectations the world puts on us, people are running scared just trying to get 'thin'.  And that is a big danger to people who are normally thoughtful and think to themselves "I am not going to fall for that body image stuff", so then eat unhealthy and don't exercise and are not honoring their bodies.

This is about honoring our bodies. God gave us these miraculous machines and many of us fill them with junk. I like the story about the thouroughbred horse trainer who himself ate fast food. Someone challenged him- "Why are you so choosy about what your horses eat but not what you eat?"  So true.

Why don't I just eat healthy and not use Medifast?

Because my life is busy now and full of stresses.  I turn to food (just a bit) and that just a bit has put about 30 extra pounds on me.  I can follow Medifast. It is easy, pre-done, I can grab and go and I really like several of the choices.  I want to stick to it for 100 days and get my body used to good food and small portions and learn to feed my stress other ways.

I will be honest about the food and eating here. For me and for you, if you ever get to read this.


Why Jazzercise?  It takes up more time than walking my shepherd. But it is upbeat, smiling, non-threatenting and often fun. I will be honest there, too. Sometimes I don't want to go.  But they keep the AC really cold and I love the new center I found. It is clean, bright and professional and has a great schedule with lots of choices of classes.

With that, I am off.

I will:

• Journal at least once a day
• Stick to the Medifast 5 and 1 plan and measure the food in my Lean and Green meal
• Attend Jazzercise at least 5 times a week
• Add in other activity such as bike riding dog walking
• Be honest.